Just a thought… Mexico is surrealist, where magic coexists with daily life. [Laura Esquivel, Like Water for Chocolate]

Welcome to a new month of journals, and for us, new coordinates. Well, kind of new…

Last year I came down to Nuevo Vallarta (aka Nuevo Nayarit) for four months. What felt like a trial separation (that most definitely wasn’t) proved to be too long apart from Rob, even with the three visits he made during his hockey season back in Sidney, BC. This year we’re here for four weeks, renting from friends-of-friends at a condo that’s more of a walk to the little town of Jarretaderas that we frequented on foot last year. But as long as we can withstand the heat (inside the condo it was 90F when we arrived yesterday), we’ll be fine. Slow and easy wins the race, or something like that!

The duration of our stay isn’t the only difference. This time we opted to leave the dogs back home with our friends Susan and Steve. They did a trial run for a week in September and everyone got along perfectly (except for their cat Charley who was nonpussed in a way that only cats can be)! With Dottie possibly going into heat while we’re gone, Susan will be on the watch and may even have to take Dottie for her final dirty weekend. But we’ll see.

I’ll also be missing my best pal Lisa Brandt this time. She’s come for visits during previous getaways and since she insists on having a real job and teaching podcasting at Fanshawe College (the nerve!) she’s just not able to join us this year. My sister who lives near Guadalajara is coming for a few nights, though, so that will be nice to see her for the first time in several months.

Our stay here also barely coincides with the eight nights of Día de Muertos in Mexico. Starting October 28, there have been nights honouring our beloved animals, then those who left without saying goodbye, those the water took, and then the forgotten and lonely souls.

Hallowe’en night was the one on which the “the door opens,” and yesterday was the day to honour los angelitos (the little angels). Today it’s the grown ones who know their way home, like our Lauren, and the festival tomorrow marks the farewell; a pet memorial walk will also take place.

Not loving crowds or excessive heat, I don’t know if we’ll have sufficient energy to get down to the Malecón today (downtown along the beach) for the 5:30 parade at which as many as 35,000 people gather for the celebration of ancestry, the likes of which Canada certainly does not have, unless you count Remembrance Day ceremonies next week. Among the free highlights to take in are 50 catrinas (statues and art pieces) including the Monumental Catrina, the Guardian of the Oceans, who holds the Guinness World Book record for standing about five storeys tall. Look at her – absolutely to die for!

Who is she? Well, traditionally, the Mexican people make fun of La Catrina, a rich old lady who reminds them that no matter how much money you have, you can’t escape death. But hey – you can sure leave a great looking corpse!

If the pace at which we moved through the airport in Puerto Vallarta (about twice as quickly as last year) is any indication, full-on tourist season hasn’t quite hit yet. But if this part of the world is on your to-do list, or you’re even considering it, I promise you it’ll be worth your while.

La vida loca is slowing down just a bit for a while here. But I’ll be recording from our temporary accommodations with Lisa, of course, and we’ll have Episode 201 of Gracefully and Frankly on Thursday as always. Oh, and if you missed the surprise ending of #200, go back and give it a listen. (Hint: it features one of my sisters!)

Have yourself a good week and thanks for sharing some time here. And now to hydrate and try to find my mojo somewhere in one of our suitcases….